Mail Delivery Alert System

ABSTRACT

A mail delivery alert system includes a mailbox that may receive mail and the mailbox has a door. A sensing unit is positioned within the mailbox and the sensing unit senses light and motion. Thus, the sensing unit detects when the door is opened. The sensing unit generates an alarm sequence when the door is opened. An electronic device is provided. The electronic device is in electrical communication with the sensing unit. Thus, the electronic device receives the alarm sequence from the sensing unit. The electronic device issues an alert when the electronic device receives the alarm sequence. Thus, the electronic device alerts that mail has been delivered to the mail box.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIE THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Descriptionof Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to alert devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new alert device for issuing an alert whenmail is deposited in a mailbox.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a mailbox that may receive mail and the mailbox hasa door. A sensing unit is positioned within the mailbox and the sensingunit senses light and motion. Thus, the sensing unit detects when thedoor is opened. The sensing unit generates an alarm sequence when thedoor is opened. An electronic device is provided. The electronic deviceis in electrical communication with the sensing unit. Thus, theelectronic device receives the alarm sequence from the sensing unit. Theelectronic device issues an alert when the electronic device receivesthe alarm sequence. Thus, the electronic device alerts that mail hasbeen delivered to the mail box.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective in-use view of a mail delivery alert systemaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a right side phantom view of a sensing unit of an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front phantom view a sensing unit of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new alert device embodying the principles and concepts ofan embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the mail delivery alert system10 generally comprises a mailbox 12 that may receive mail. The mailbox12 has a door 14 and an inner surface 16. The mailbox 12 may be amailbox of any conventional design. A sensing unit 18 is coupled to themailbox 12 and the sensing unit 18 is positioned within the mailbox 12.The sensing unit 18 senses light and motion. Thus, the sensing unit 18may detect when the door 14 is opened. The sensing unit 18 generates analarm sequence when the door 14 is opened.

The sensing unit 18 comprises a housing 20 that has a front side 22 anda lateral side 24. The housing 20 is positioned within the mailbox 12having the front side 22 facing the door 14. An adhesive layer 26 iscoupled to the lateral side of the housing 20. The adhesive layer 26adhesively engages the inner surface 16 of the mailbox 12. Thus, thehousing 20 is retained on the inner surface 16.

A processor 28 is positioned within the housing 20 and the processor 28selectively generates the alarm sequence. The processor 28 may comprisean electronic processor or the like. A sensor 30 is coupled to the frontside 22 of the housing 20 and the sensor 30 detects light and motion.The sensor 30 is electrically coupled to the processor 28. The processor28 generates the alarm sequence when the sensor 30 detects light andmotion. The sensor 30 may comprise an electronic light sensor or thelike. The sensor 30 may additionally comprise an electronic motionsensor or the like.

A transmitter 32 is positioned within the housing 20 and the transmitter32 is electrically coupled to the processor 28. The transmitter 32 maycomprise a radio frequency transmitter or the like. A power supply 34 ispositioned within the housing 20 and the power supply 34 is electricallycoupled to the processor 28. The power supply 34 comprises at least onebattery 36. A battery cover 38 is removably coupled to the housing 20.The power supply 34 is positioned beneath the battery cover 38.

An electronic device 40 is provided and the electronic device 40 is inelectrical communication with the sensing unit 18. Thus, the electronicdevice 40 receives the alarm sequence from the sensing unit 18. Theelectronic device 40 issues an alert when the electronic device 40receives the alarm sequence. Thus, the electronic device 40 communicatesthat mail has been delivered to the mailbox 12.

The electronic device 40 has a transceiver 42 that is in electricalcommunication with the transmitter 32. The transceiver 32 may comprise aradio frequency transceiver or the like. The electronic device 40 maycomprise a smart phone or the like. The alert may comprise a textmessage, a notification from an app or other conventional smart phonealert. The electronic device 40 is carried by a user while the user isin a remote location with respect to the mailbox 12. Thus, the user isremotely notified of mail in the mailbox 12.

In use, the housing 20 is positioned within the mailbox 12. The sensor30 detects light and motion when the door 14 is opened. The electronicdevice 40 issues the alert when the mail is inserted into the mailbox12. Thus, the user is notified of the mail in the mailbox 12. Thesensing unit 18 inhibits the user from travelling to the mailbox 12 tocheck for mail when no mail is present.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A mail delivery alert system being configured to issue an alert whenmail is delivered into a mailbox, said system comprising: a mailboxbeing configured to receive mail, said mailbox having a door; a sensingunit being coupled to said mailbox, said sensing unit being positionedwithin said mailbox, said sensing unit being configured to sense lightand motion wherein said sensing unit is configured to detect when saiddoor is opened, said sensing unit generating an alarm sequence when saiddoor is opened, said sensing unit including a housing having a frontside and a lateral side, said lateral side being flat, said housingbeing positioned within said mailbox having said front side facing saiddoor; an electronic device, said electronic device being in electricalcommunication with said sensing unit such that said electronic devicereceives said alarm sequence from said sensing unit, said electronicdevice issuing an alert when said electronic device receives said alarmsequence wherein said electronic device is configured to alert that mailhas been delivered to said mail box; and an adhesive layer being coupledto said lateral side, said adhesive layer adhesively engaging an innersurface of said mailbox such that said housing is retained on said innersurface along a lateral planar vertical face of said mailbox. 2.(canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The system according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a housing having a front side and a lateral side, saidhousing being positioned within said mailbox having said front sidefacing said door; and a processor being positioned within said housing,said processor selectively generating said alarm sequence.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 4, further comprising a sensor being coupled to saidfront side of said housing wherein said sensor is configured to detectlight, said sensor being electrically coupled to said processor, saidprocessor generating said alarm sequence when said sensor detects light.6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a transmitterbeing positioned within said housing, said transmitter beingelectrically coupled to said processor.
 7. The system according to claim4, further comprising a power supply being positioned within saidhousing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said processor,said power supply comprising at least one battery.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein: said sensing unit has a transmitter; andsaid electronic device has a transceiver being in electricalcommunication with said transmitter.
 9. A mail delivery alert systembeing configured to issue an alert when mail is delivered into amailbox, said system comprising: a mailbox being configured to receivemail, said mailbox having a door and an inner surface; a sensing unitbeing coupled to said mailbox, said sensing unit being positioned withinsaid mailbox, said sensing unit being configured to sense light andmotion wherein said sensing unit is configured to detect when said dooris opened, said sensing unit generating an alarm sequence when said dooris opened, said sensing unit comprising: a housing having a front sideand a lateral side, said lateral side being flat, said housing beingpositioned within said mailbox having said front side facing said door,an adhesive layer being coupled to said lateral side, said adhesivelayer adhesively engaging said inner surface of said mailbox such thatsaid housing is retained on said inner surface along a lateral planarvertical face of said mailbox, a processor being positioned within saidhousing, said processor selectively generating said alarm sequence, asensor being coupled to said front side of said housing wherein saidsensor is configured to detect light and motion, said sensor beingelectrically coupled to said processor, said processor generating saidalarm sequence when said sensor detects light and motion; a transmitterbeing positioned within said housing, said transmitter beingelectrically coupled to said processor, and a power supply beingpositioned within said housing, said power supply being electricallycoupled to said processor, said power supply comprising at least onebattery; and an electronic device, said electronic device being inelectrical communication with said sensing unit such that saidelectronic device receives said alarm sequence from said sensing unit,said electronic device issuing an alert when said electronic devicereceives said alarm sequence wherein said electronic device isconfigured to alert that mail has been delivered to said mail box, saidelectronic device having a transceiver being in electrical communicationwith said transmitter.